The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-29
TWENTY TWO VICTIMS.
More than Score of Persons
Lost by the Burning of
the ChampIain.
The Steamer Wrapped in Flames with
Almost Incredible Rapidly
Narratives OF Survivors.
Heroic Conduct of the Captain and Crew
Complete List Of Those Who
Persisted.
lCharlevoix Mich special

ICharlevoix Mich special.l
There were fifty nine persons, passen-
gers and crew, on the Champlain, and Of
those but thirty eight were known 10 be
saved. A full and complete list of the VIC
tins is as follows: Ella Smith, OF Char
levoix: Robert Wilks, of Charlevoix; Geo.
Wrisley, of Charlevoix; Mrs. NJ. Kehoe, of
Chicago; Harry Brennan, of Chicago; one
fireman, the second cook, Jack Hartley,
Steward LIE Boe's two children, j. X. Rog-.
ers, the United States Hospital Sur
Ed Wilkins, cabin boy, of Madison, Wis;
Capt. lucas, of retoskey; c. II. Russell,
of Jackson, Mich; Mr.. and Mrs. Falk, of
Harbor Springs; Mrs. Schaub, Wisconsin;
four Indians, deck hands. Twenty-Five
lives are lost in all and thirty eight we're
saved. The bodies of Mrs. Smith, Capt.
Lucas, Rogers, Russell, Brennan, Hart
ley, Wilkins, Wilks, Wrisley, and the fire.
man have been recovered. Capt. Casey is
much complimented for his GOODNESS and
bravery i'll the trying ordeal TO which he
was subjected. When the fire broke out he
headed the boat for Little Island, two miles
distant, but she struck n reef and could
go no farther. The crew behaved gal
lantly. All that is yet known of the origin
Of tho fire in that it broke out near the
boiler. A large amount of freight and
four valuable horses were lost. The bodies
cf the dead have been packed in ice here
and await the orders of friends.
The captain and other officers of the boat
SEEM 10 have performed their duty bravely,
ind many instances of indiviual GOODNESS
are related by which lives were saved. 1t
seems that if the boats could have been
reached after tie steamer struck the bar no
lives would have been lost.
Among those who acted with conspicuous
GOODNESS was Miss Mary Wakefield, of
Charlevoix, who saved herself and the lit
tie daughter of Mrs. Kehoe of Chicago,
by holding the little girl on a fender and
pushing it ahead of her. The mother
drowned soon after striking the water, and
before Miss Wakefield could get the fender
&c, her.
Mrs. Ingalls, of Petoskey, got on the boat
at Elk Rapids, and had lain down When
the alarm of fire was given first she coolly
put ON her bonnet and secured life-pre-
Eerver, which had broken string, so that
rhe was compelled to hold it together in
front. She remained on board until driven
10 the water 10y the heat, and then dropped,
and managed to secure fender and worked
toward the shore.
Soon young man came for the fender,
and Mrs. Ingalls, infused some of her cour-
age into i'm and prayed with him, and
Enally brought him safely to shore. where
she divided her garments with him to
keep him from dying from exposure.
Captain Casey makes the following state
ment: ave were about three miles north
west Of Fishermans Island at ii 40, when
my first engineer came running up to the
bow of the boat and shouted that the boat
was on fire. His clothes were all in
flames, and L told him to climb to
the upper deck and get into the
water tank. which he did. j then had the
boat Loaded for the shore, and got the
boats ready for use. 1t was impossible to
lower them, however. while the boat was
under full Roadway, and as it was impossi-
bic TO get mp to the engine TO stop 1t, moth
ing could be done until we ran ashore on
the reef extending ont from the land. L
then jumped overheard and swan TO the
shore for help, as it was near Sm;thsons
camp, and vessel was lying there. i met
two boats coming TO the rescue, and we
then turned TO and saved all that was pos
sible. l don't know personally how the
fire originated. II was dark and foggy
and raining hard, but there was little
wind.
Charles A. Lacomb. a fireman on the
boat. makes the following statement: "I
was awakened ut 1880 by an explos on of
lantern or by its dropping on the floor,
and found the room all ablaze. / tried to
put 1t out, and when l found ii impossible
TO do so / rushed through it and burned
myself badly. but went through the en-
gine-room and mp stairs through the cabin
hallooing Fire! and notified every one 1
saw. / assisted in getting the boats out,
and then jumped overheard and caught on
fender with five others and worked
ashore"
w. b. Albright, of Chicago, saws that
he heard n shrek about midnight. 10 was
the cry of the scorched engineer. He
looked after the safety of some lady pas
sengers and then, with Mr.. Russell. of
Jackson. jumped into the water and struck
ont for shore. Mr.. Russell became chilled
and discouraged. and started back. ALL
bright saw 10 more of his companion I'M
til he discovered his body on the each.
Albright was rescped after two hours,
though he would have been left to his fate
had not friend recogni ;ed his voice and
insisted upon his being taken aboard Loaf
v hich was then loaded to the waters edge.
Miss Ella Wills n, of fetoskey, saws she
retired about 10 o'clo X. and WAS aroused
10y lady, who said the boat was on ire.
She first went aft. but came back and
reached the bow, where she was let down
by ropes into the wafer. She saw ren-
tleman clasp bis little ION in his arms and
jump overheard. Both sank and were not
seen again. iss Wilson and a usle
companion fioated for some time. and fin
ally reached a piece OF wreck. to which
they chung until rescued 10y Capt Casey.